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18 July 2020 | Story Amanda Thongha

Staff, students and other stakeholders of the University of the Free State (UFS) can look forward to a virtual music show honouring the values and beliefs of former President Nelson Mandela. Musicians such as Simple Stories, Sibongile Mngoma, Boitumelo Mohutsioa, and Lucy Sehloho have prepared performances that will be showcased on UFS communication platforms on 31 July. Concluding Mandela Month celebrations, the pre-recorded show will also feature performances by poets Braithan Moratwa and Zilungile Muqayi. The show is coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs at the UFS.  

Angelo Mockie, Senior Officer: Arts, Culture and Dialogue at Student Affairs, says the show was primarily produced to convey a message of hope, solidarity, and support to the UFS community. “We chose Mandela Month to publish it, because those are the values that he believed in. Now more than ever, we need to stand together as a community to find ways of adapting to the new normal.”

In a message to UFS staff acknowledging the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said Madiba’s example of compassion and courage made him one of the best-known leaders in the world.
“His life was a true inspiration and his devotion to democracy, equality, learning, and caring for others have earned him the respect of communities around the world.

This year, the significance of Mandela Day will be even more important than ever before, as we demonstrate caring by looking after ourselves, our families, and those around us, while we navigate through the pandemic. Caring provides purpose, but also the motivation to fulfil that purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic should enable us to imagine a world that is fairer, safer, more stable, secure, and one that can prosper.”

Taking Action

Heeding the call to take action and inspire change on Nelson Mandela’s birthday, you can read the following articles about the UFS making every day a Mandela Day:

The shelter and the students – a triumph of social impact

South Campus delivers much-needed educational support during pandemic

News Archive

UFS strengthens ties with university in the Netherlands
2010-04-20

 
From the left are: Prof. Neil Heideman, Acting Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Mr Johan van Niekerk, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development; and Mr Herman van de Wal, Dronten University.
Photo: Stephen Collett
 
 The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (CENSARD) at the University of the Free State hosted a visiting academic and livestock specialist from Dronten University in the Netherlands, Mr Herman van der Wal.

Mr Van der Wal paid visits to Mr Arthur Johnson from the International Office; Proff. Frans Swanepoel, Director of Research Development; Neil Heideman, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; and Izak Groenewald, Director of CENSARD.

Collaboration is currently taking place between the centre and Dronten University. Future exchange of students, lecturers and academic and administrative knowledge was discussed. From next year, Dronten University will be offering a distance-learning M.Sc. in Agriculture and for this reason Mr Van der Wal looked into the model that is currently used by the centre.

The visit was very successful and doors were opened for future exchanges, including a planned visit by delegates from the centre to Dronten University later this year.

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